Drunk e-scooter rider nabbed in downtown Kelowna: RCMP

RCMP caught a wanted man after pulling him over in downtown Kelowna on Monday for being drunk while riding an electric scooter.

A man was riding an electric scooter on the sidewalk at the corner of Leon Avenue and Ellis Street, June 16, when an officer noticed he wasn’t wearing a helmet and appeared unsteady, according to a press release from police.

An officer saw him go into a parking lot and skid the rear tire of his scooter so the officer made a traffic stop.

Once police found out who he was they realized he had three outstanding warrants, so the officer arrested him. During the search as part of the arrest police found a bottle of hard liquor tucked into the waistband of his sweatpants.

The rider had a blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit of 0.08.

He was given a 90-day roadside driving prohibition and was taken to the police station for photos and fingerprinting. He was released with an undertaking to appear in court and his scooter was impounded for 30 days.

“This incident highlights the importance of proactive patrols in keeping our streets safe,” Sgt. Kyle Ushock with the Kelowna RCMP Municipal Traffic Unit said in the release.

“As an operator, you are subject to the same rules and regulations for operating any type of conveyance while impaired, whether it’s a car, boat or a scooter.”